The best high-tech lip balms

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If there’s one thing almost every women will have on her desk or in her handbag, it’s lip balm. I have about six at any one time, because for a lipstick lover there’s nothing worse than chapped, flaky lips. But forget your basic £2 pot: things are moving on.

Introducing the new wave of hi-tech balms, which act like skincare for your lips. 'When you’re run down and it’s cold, your lips can often chap – but my advice is not to be tempted by greasy balms,’ says skincare specialist Debbie Thomas.

'They train your skin to stop producing its own moisture. Just like moisturisers for the face, a lip balm can make the lips lazy. Instead, use a hyaluronic-acid-enriched balm that triggers the lips’ own moisture-making ability, so they hydrate themselves.’

So first up, let’s talk the wonder ingredient, hyaluronic acid. It’s used a lot in skincare, but can do wonders for the lips, too. This month, Fillerina launches a roll-on lip plumper containing different-sized hyaluronic molecules that combine to plump and fill the lips. It works if used a few times a day, and will leave you with super-soft, smooth lips.

I also love Estée Lauder’s New Dimension Plump+Fill Expert Lip Treatment, a two-step product with a filler serum to define lip contours and a plumping balm to hydrate and condition. Look out for it when it launches next month.

The innovation doesn’t stop at balms, either. For instance, Dior is just about to expand its Lip Glow range. The existing Lip Glow balm works with the pH levels in your lips to create a bespoke pinky hue.

And the latest drop? A Lip Glow lip liner, which I haven’t been able to put down since I started using it a few weeks ago. It defines the lip line and stops any lipstick bleeding. Used all over the lips, it leaves a waxy, pinky finish that looks amazing alone. It’s safe to say I’m addicted.